Help with choosing a MacBook Air Model for a college student.
I am a college student and I am debating between the two 13 inch Mac AirBook models that Apple offers. I was wondering if someone can give me a breakdown of the differences and also, which model would be a better fit for a college student?
The two models are described here:
MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) - Technical SpecificationsJun 10, 2013
Actually, there is only one model. You can purchase it with 128GB or 256GB of storage. But you can customize other features as well, such as the processor speed and the RAM size.
Asking which model is best for a college student is just like asking what type of car you should buy. It's up to you. In my opinion, if you're going to spend a bit of money to upgrade from the base model, the first place to upgrade would be the RAM size.
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MacBook Air 11" for a College Student
I am an incoming freshman in college and will definitely not be majoring in any math or computer courses (therefore, no heavy gaming, no intense graphics, no photoshop, no art stuff, etc.). I would mostly be using the laptop for writing papers, spreadsheets, presentations, surfing the internet, and storing photographs and a couple of movies. I have an external disc drive (1TB) to store the thousands of pictures I have and whatever so it doesn't take up a lot of space on my computer. I love the portability and sleek design of the MacBook Air 11" and I am definitely purchasing it, but my question is: what specs should I get in terms of RAM, speed, etc. so that I can do what I need to do and it will last me 4+ years with software updates, etc? Will the base model be enough?
Thanks in advance for your help.
-DominiqueI would suggest the 13" screen because it is much easier to read. Get the most RAM you can afford; next the biggest SSD you can afford.
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Macbook Air capabilities for Aerospace Engineering Student
Well, I'm a soon-to-be highschool senior, and I'm looking to buy a Macbook for college. I plan on majoring in Aerospace enginering. I know the 15" rMBP with the dedicated graphics card would be optimal, but that is out of my budget. However, I have two options picked out, and I'm curious of your opinion on what I should buy.
I'm thinking a 13" Air with the i7, 8GB of Ram, and 256 GB of flash storage.
Originally, i was thinking of a refurbished 13" Retina Pro with an i5, 8GB ram and 256 SD.
This is not the case anymore, as the Air now has the PCIe based Flash storage, Haswell Processor, Intel Graphics 5000, 108.11ac Wi-fi, and astounding battery life. Another reason for me leaning toward the MBA is because of the ghosting screen problems on the rMBP. If you haven't seen that problem yet, just simply google (or bing) it.
In most of the places I've researched, the Air with this processor is boasting Geekbench scores of the rMBP, and it is keeping up with speed tests against the rMBP 13".
So, my question for you guys is, do you think this Air would be capable of handling an engineering workload and programs? Would the 13" rMBP boast any features (besides Retina) that I would notice over the Air?
Thanks for your help!I second the above opinion, as I am an Electrical Engineering student currently. I've been using an 11" Air for everything (full options, i7, 8gb, 512ssd). I was using a mid 2011 and i just got the new 2013 model and I have to say both have performed outstanding.
Since you're gonna be an engineer i'll tell you how I run my machine to let you know how powerful it is for school:
I run 4 desktops that i swipe between constantly with 10+ programs running, most of which are not your normal small programs (Autocad, MotionBuilder, etc.)
My 5th desktop that i swipe between is Parallels Desktop running windows 7 for the non-mac apps, inside of windows i typically run 3+ programs which include AutoCad, Quartus (electronic modeling) and PSpice.
Keep in mind that I run all of this at the same time and it's probably too much (I don't need to run everything at once I just love to keep evrything up so between classes I don't have to prepare for the next).
All I have to say is the machine kills it. i'm serious, no lag, fluid autocad building, low heat, and great battery, i got about 5 hours out of my 2011 model and i expect to see 8+ out of this one when school gets going again.
You're in the right direction, i think you'll be more than happy with a new Macbook Air if you max out the options, and then you'll increase the resale so in 2-3 years you can grab the latest and greatest as i did.
Good luck in engineering and don't let it get to you, stick it out and it'll be worthwhile! -
Help with SSD replacement - Macbook Air MC966LZ/A
Hi, we have a macbook air MC966LZ/A model A1369 - core i5 1.7 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD. We require to upgrade the hard drive to 500 GB or 750 GB, Could you please tell us which would be the best compatible option? Please include Part number if is possible, because I will do the replacement by myself (I hope not to make a mistake).
This doubt occurs after our local vendor recommends us a Samsung 840 EVO SSD 500GB, which has arrived a time ago, but at the time of the upgrading, they said that this disk is not comptatible with and unless we buy an Apple SSD instead (which cost is huge), there is not a solution. We also want to know if the technician is right.
Thanks four your help.should this SSD an option?
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I can get on the internet via Airport, and can receive but cannot send messages from Entourage. However, I can get on the Cox Website and send messages that way. I can't find any informationa regarding MS Office for Teachers and Students in the long lists of discussions. Where am I going wrong?
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Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
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Replied, to her, but nothing happened.
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Return-Path: <[email protected]>
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Message-ID: <C2C52A8E.B7%[email protected]>
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In-Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Mime-version: 1.0
Content-type: multipart/alternative;
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Help please! My macbook air (2015) startup showed a folder with question mark so i tried "Command R" for internet recovery but after few minutes it stopped and showed error.. Please hepl me!
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Can the Macbook Air model MD760HN/B be used for developing iOS apps?
Hi,
I'm planning to learn iOS Apps Development and I am planning to buy the Macbook Air Model - MD760HN/B.
My question is - Is this model fit enough to develop apps using XCode?
The retailer says the OS is Mac OS X Mavericks, there is no version written.
I am planning to develop using Swift Language so let me know if this is possible as well using the above stated Model Number.
Yes, I have created an Apple Developer Account already as an iOS Developer.
Looking forward for your valuable replies.
I hope Mac is better than Windows (using since Windows 95) - (Hate Windows 8)
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SamiruddinThis sounds to me like the MacBook Air mid-2013 model with a 13" display and core i5 processor built for sale in India.
Yes, this should be fine for writing Swift code.
The current Apple operating system is OS X Mavericks version 10.9.5. If your computer comes with Mavericks installed, you can always update to the current version by opening the App Store and clicking "Updates" near the top right. -
My MacBook Air is not charging...any help?
Model Name: MacBook Air
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Boot ROM VerHi HarmitClaire,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I understand that your MacBook Air is not charging as expected. In this situation there are troubleshooting steps that I would recommend. Please use the attached article as a resource for steps to help you resolve this situation.
Mac notebooks: All about batteries - Apple Support
My battery is not charging
Confirm the correct wattage AC adapter for the computer. A power adapter rated for a lower wattage than is required for the system may not reliably charge the computer. For assistance identifying the proper adapter, review Intel Based Mac notebooks: Identifying the right power adapter and power cord--US. Additional adapter troubleshooting is available in Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters. If issues persist please reset the SMC.
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Is the MacBook Air recommended for working with RAW photographs in Aperture and Photoshop, or do I need a more powerful MacBook ? The relative lack of weight of the AIr is what attracts me to it.
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You'll also want an external disk if you are going to be doing lots of shooting.
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Yes, you can use an air but you'll want external storage and at least 8GB of ram.
Or go MacBook Pro with 16GB ram with the 650M card. -
hi all i porches apple macbook air model mc-234 serial number W80031NH9A7 but it dont save the cahrge i dont know the reason is here any body to help me please i thing there will not be battery inside but im not sure about it
Being a 2009 model, it is likely the battery is worn out. Take it to a service center and have the battery replaced.
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Macbook Air right for an engineering major?
I'm currently a Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering double major at UC Davis, and I wanted some input on whether or not a Macbook Air would be suitable for my needs. The 13" 2013 unit with the Haswell CPU is only $999 on Amazon right now and I figured it is priced so competetively with other ultrabooks now that I can actually consider it.
As far as I know, I need access to a Python and C/C++ IDE and compiler, MATLAB, and several CAD applications that my school gives us for certain classes. That's pretty much all I need from now through my bachelors degree. I'll also dual boot Windows 8 since I may occasionally miss Windows, since this will be my only PC from now on (I completely stopped gaming so I sold my custom desktop). I'll also run any programs that are Windows only in Windows of course.
Sure, I will be doing some software design, but the ULV i5 is plenty powerful. I'm not doing some insane rendering or anything. Just some very basic rendering and programming.
So I have 3 questions:
1. Is a Macbook Air right for an Engineering major? How has having a Macbook "changed" you as an engineer?
2. Is there any way to have a Windows Partition, an OSX Partition, and an exFAT partition to share my music and videos across both OS's? Both Windows and OSX can read and write to exFAT right?
3. What external hard drive and USB drive formats (other than FAT since I have files larger than 4GB) are best for transferring files to and from OSX and Windows machines?
Thanks for the help! I'm looking forward to purchasing a Mac since they are so competetively priced now. I think Apple mad a great move with these price cuts.I second the above opinion, as I am an Electrical Engineering student currently. I've been using an 11" Air for everything (full options, i7, 8gb, 512ssd). I was using a mid 2011 and i just got the new 2013 model and I have to say both have performed outstanding.
Since you're gonna be an engineer i'll tell you how I run my machine to let you know how powerful it is for school:
I run 4 desktops that i swipe between constantly with 10+ programs running, most of which are not your normal small programs (Autocad, MotionBuilder, etc.)
My 5th desktop that i swipe between is Parallels Desktop running windows 7 for the non-mac apps, inside of windows i typically run 3+ programs which include AutoCad, Quartus (electronic modeling) and PSpice.
Keep in mind that I run all of this at the same time and it's probably too much (I don't need to run everything at once I just love to keep evrything up so between classes I don't have to prepare for the next).
All I have to say is the machine kills it. i'm serious, no lag, fluid autocad building, low heat, and great battery, i got about 5 hours out of my 2011 model and i expect to see 8+ out of this one when school gets going again.
You're in the right direction, i think you'll be more than happy with a new Macbook Air if you max out the options, and then you'll increase the resale so in 2-3 years you can grab the latest and greatest as i did.
Good luck in engineering and don't let it get to you, stick it out and it'll be worthwhile! -
Help I have a Macbook 2006 model and I like to play videogames on it, well when I leave it plugged in it gets the best performance, when its not plugged in its decent, so will it hurt my battery if I leave it plugged in at all times?
No, it will hurt your battery, but it is not recommended by Apple. Additionally, since you have a model with a removable battery, you should calibrate the battery once a month if you leave it plugged in at all times.
Apple Portables: Calibrating your computer's battery for best ...
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HT3131 Are there any ventilation issues with running a macbook air in clamshell mode?
Are there any ventilation issues with running a macbook air in clamshell mode?
...that makes sense to me.
but, why do so many MBA users (on this forum and others) claim that ventilation occurs through the keyboard? Is this claim based on an old macbook design?
for example, here's a related discussion (although fairly old):
11-08-2010, 12:16 PM
#6 (permalink)
SP Forsythe
Notebook Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: California
Posts: 660
Rep Power: 14
Re: Is it safe to use MBP with screen lid closed? Leave charge on always?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tHE j0KER
Actually I you shouldn't close the lid while running on an external screen. The keyboard of the Macbook is an air intake for the fan. Close the lid, and it could overheat.
A common misconception of unknown origin. The intake and the exhaust for the cooling fan on the 13" MB and MBP are both located on the rear slot at the base of the hinge. In fact, you can actually see the divider that separates the intake flow from the output flow. If it were through the keyboard crevices, then an awful lot of overheats would result from people using impermeable keyboard covers, as well as Apple's warranty department would be flipping out over the Apple store carrying such covers. iSkin ProTouch FX Keyboard Cover for all MacBooks - Black Printed Keys on White - Apple Store (U.S.)
Does one think that Apple sells these only for use when the Notebook is off??? http://store.apple.com/us/product/TW...co=MTM3OTUwMDE Closing the lid, whilst operating the unit actually results in cooler operation due to reduction in power consumed by operating the display, which in supporting the on-board display generates heat far greater than simply powering the video port..
Does one think that Apple sells these for use only when the MacBook is off? http://store.apple.com/us/product/TW...co=MTM3OTUwMDEApples direction for use is specifically for when using with an external display.
Currently using:
Apple MacBook Air 13" mid 2011 1.8GHz Core i7 4GB 256 GB SSD Lion & Ubuntu Linux via Fusion
MacBook Air 11.6" late 2010 1.6 GHZ, 320M, 4GB 180 GB SSD Upgraded OWC), OS X Lion
11-08-2010, 02:34 PM
#7 (permalink)
ajreynol
Notebook Virtuoso
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 2,542
Rep Power: 18
Re: Is it safe to use MBP with screen lid closed? Leave charge on always?
once again, I've tried a few of these keyboard covers. the Moshi keyboard cover is the ONLY one I can recommend. the others are too thick or change the keyboard experience too much.
17" Apple MacBook Pro | i7 2720m | 160GB SSD + 750GB | 16GB | HD 6750M 1GB
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11-08-2010, 03:34 PM
#8 (permalink)
doh123
Without ME its just AWESO
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,282
Rep Power: 22
Re: Is it safe to use MBP with screen lid closed? Leave charge on always?
1. Closing the cover will cause more heat. This is not because of covering the keyboard very much (though it does help some heat be retained). It's mainly because of the shape of the hinge and the fact when closed it covers up the back vent a lot more. For the best cooling, it is best to have the screen open. Just run it as a dual monitor, but make the external the Primary monitor, and if you don't want to use the built in, just turn its backlight off and don't use it.
2. The thing you plug into the wall is not a battery charger. The actual "charger" is built into the computer. It knows when to charge and when not to. If the little light on the power plug is amber, then its charging your battery. When its green, its just powering the laptop and NOT charging your battery at all.
Mac OS X Gamer/Porter
(We do exist!)
Wineskin 2.5 is available!. Turn Windows apps into Mac apps for free!
11-08-2010, 03:38 PM
#9 (permalink)
Wolfpup
Notebook Virtuoso
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,871
Rep Power: 28
Re: Is it safe to use MBP with screen lid closed? Leave charge on always?
I'd leave the lid open, at least partially...yes it may be fine not doing that, but you are making heat dissipate worse, of course could even theoretically hurt the screen.
As for the battery...well there's really only two choices, have it plugged in or not. As others mentioned, you can't overcharge the battery. It can be damaged a bit from heat, but of course the number one thing that's going to damage it is discharging it...so it's a no brainer-use it plugged in whenever possible, and try to charge it whenever possible when it's not plugged in.
11-08-2010, 03:45 PM
#10 (permalink)
SP Forsythe
Notebook Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: California
Posts: 660
Rep Power: 14
Re: Is it safe to use MBP with screen lid closed? Leave charge on always?
Quote:
Originally Posted by doh123
1. Closing the cover will cause more heat. This is not because of covering the keyboard very much (though it does help some heat be retained). It's mainly because of the shape of the hinge and the fact when closed it covers up the back vent a lot more. For the best cooling, it is best to have the screen open. Just run it as a dual monitor, but make the external the Primary monitor, and if you don't want to use the built in, just turn its backlight off and don't use it.
Nope. Apple would disagree with you on that one. Any "closure", which is, when compared to the amount of CFM, is insignificant. In fact, the opening size remains the same. it is only deflected at a slight angle when the lid is closed. Tilt your MBP and see. As well, shutting down the display lowers the heat being generated, even in the lower case. As I said, if it were a problem, Apple would not be selling stands designed to operate your unit in the closed position as the original poster of this thread proposes to do.
Currently using:
Apple MacBook Air 13" mid 2011 1.8GHz Core i7 4GB 256 GB SSD Lion & Ubuntu Linux via Fusion
MacBook Air 11.6" late 2010 1.6 GHZ, 320M, 4GB 180 GB SSD Upgraded OWC), OS X Lion
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